First, a huge thanks to everyone who took the time to post a message through this new channel. I'm glad to see that many of you want the same thing I do, which is a way to create constructive communication. And no time was wasted getting right to one of our real issues, which is the cost of living, particularly housing for city employees.
For everyone whose cost of commuting has skyrocketed, you'll be glad to know that the Engineering and Human Resources Departments are very close to rolling out a van-pool program that has City Commission approval that would allow people from North Port or Venice to ride together to work. I won't go into details, but look for a participation survey in the next week or so - and sign up if you're interested, because it is going to happen.
At our department head meeting Friday morning we're going to talk about some other energy-saving ideas, and one that has come up is the 4-10 idea one of the posters mentioned. So you're right on track, we really have to be creative, because the problem is going to get immediately worse thanks to Katrina.
Affordable housing - that is a large issue on everyone's radar screen. I will have to add some thoughts to this post later on, as my Old Man's Basketball League is calling my name for the moment, and I can't do the subject justice in a few minutes. The same goes for the salary and benefit issues, which are certainly related.
Again, thanks to all who participated in this new experiment today! Mike McNees
For everyone whose cost of commuting has skyrocketed, you'll be glad to know that the Engineering and Human Resources Departments are very close to rolling out a van-pool program that has City Commission approval that would allow people from North Port or Venice to ride together to work. I won't go into details, but look for a participation survey in the next week or so - and sign up if you're interested, because it is going to happen.
At our department head meeting Friday morning we're going to talk about some other energy-saving ideas, and one that has come up is the 4-10 idea one of the posters mentioned. So you're right on track, we really have to be creative, because the problem is going to get immediately worse thanks to Katrina.
Affordable housing - that is a large issue on everyone's radar screen. I will have to add some thoughts to this post later on, as my Old Man's Basketball League is calling my name for the moment, and I can't do the subject justice in a few minutes. The same goes for the salary and benefit issues, which are certainly related.
Again, thanks to all who participated in this new experiment today! Mike McNees
posted by Michael McNees at 5:51 PM
12 Comments:
There is no question that the City and County of Sarasota is pricing out current and prospective employees. It’s more difficult to work and live inside the City limits. We must come up with more than just competitive salaries. We should think outside the box to both keep and attract employees. i.e. benefits, perks, signing bonus, paid moving expenses, discounts on utility bills for living in the city, ride sharing, car pooling, cooperative work with lenders and banks for discounts on mortgages, deals with rental owners, etc. I think this needs to be a major priority in 2006 otherwise the quality prospective employees, and the quality, time and effort of current employees will suffer.
Mike, first my personal thanks for using this innovative technique to bypass the gatekeepers at the newspaper.
Second, while rhetoric is fine and useful, a few cold facts will be necessary to frame and butress arguments. For example, if the cost of a modest home in town is $250K, and a city employee obtains a zero-down mortgage, the monthly payment will be around $1,400 at 5.6%. Assuming that should be about one-third of the employees pay, it means the hypothetical employee must earn $50K/year. My question, what is the average (or mean) city employee salary?
The equation works backwards too. A $25K/year employee can only afford a $125,000 home. It's not ony a question of real-estate prices. It's also a question of compensation.
With the recent hurricanes and the flooding & distruction that takes place near the coastal areas, is it wise to locate our new Police Department downtown? Channel 7 weather stated this week that if we were hit with a hurricane similar to Katrina that our City would be underwater as far in land as US301. Beneva & Fruitville may be the wiser choice.
To Stan Zimmerman's post: Why not assume a homeowner might have a 10% down payment plus a second breadwinner in a $250,000 house?
What a creative and ambitious undertaking for a city manager who already appears to put himself out there quite a bit. Thank you for continuing to think of ways to make yourself available to everyone in the city. I hope the people who need to have you answer everyones questions all the time, in every situation realize that you have a city to run with many employees who need your time also.
From what I understand, the average city employee makes about $13 or $14 an hour; any one out there know how much of a house that would buy?
"From what I understand, the average city employee makes about $13 or $14 an hour; any one out there know how much of a house that would buy? "
13.5 * 40 * 52 = $2,340/Month
Using Stans' mortgage:
$1,400 at 5.6%.
Leaves the family $940 for Electric (125?), Phone (50?), Sewer & Water (40?); Fuel ($100?); CABLE (100?); Car Payment (200?)
But the homes around us are asking $325,000- $379,000 and (apparently) getting it for wood frame structures nearly fifty years old!
PS Cops get $25/week for living within City Limits. That will cover the first 22,000 of interest at the rate Stan's lender is offering. THey also get eh use of a City patrol car and the gas it consumes.
But, you don't want to wave that $15/hour Average figure around down at Twelfth Street as you might get some argument.
"Buying the replacement (Go-4 Interceptor) scooters will cost roughly $25,000 each" Peter Abbott, Chief of Police 8/23/2005 Memo to City Commission
Geeze, Pete, You can buy a Honda Insight for that kind of money and get 55MPG in AC Comfort.
We can put flashing red ligts on just about any vehicle. Try to better husband the taxpayer's dollars.
Is it true the city has a carpool for people who live in Northport? What time does it leave Northport or is there more than one?
In light of the gas shortage, have we considered solid waste pickup to be once a week instead of the current twice a week? Would this save gas or would we just use the same amount with extra trips to the landfill? Just a thought.
from Pat2
I really like the idea of 4 10hour days, I think employees would like that idea. Maybe work Mon, Tues, Thursday and Friday. Lots of places close on Wednesday. Or just stagger staff so that everybody works 4 10hour days. That would save TOMS of gas, especially for people who live further away.
Pat2
The last three bloggers bring some great ideas to the discussion. A staggered 4/10 workweek would save on fuel, as would the City of Sarasota and the SPD by purchasing hybrid vehicles. Detroit is not going to manufacture hybrids rapidly unless there is a demand, so let’s demand them. When air bags were first introduced, Detroit complained that each air bag would add $400 to the price of their vehicles. As it turns out, the added cost now is only around $40 per air bag, per vehicle. Hybrid prices will come down, once they’re mass-produced.
I believe there is (or is going to be) a vanpool from Northport to the City. The person to contact is Maggie at 951-3666, Ext. 3746.
As an aside, I doubt anyone making $14 per hour could afford a house in which one would consider living in the City of Sarasota, even if the bank would mortgage the place and how (on that income) could one possibly save for the down payment? I know folks at the City making $20 per hour who are living frugally and from paycheck to paycheck. As I’ve said in the past, I find it unconscionable that the City does not set an example to other businesses in the area by providing living wages to City employees.
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